Improvement in picks



UNITED S'rlrrris PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN LYNCH, OF PORT RICHMOND, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT lN rlcKs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,693, dated September 1, 1874: application filed June 24, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN LYNCH, of Port Richmond, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Picks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a central section. Fig. 2 is a front-end View. 7

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

My invention consists in constructing the eye of a pick with two openingsone to receive the handle, and the other to receive the head or pick-armsaid eye being constructed of metal, with lateral prolongations, which embrace the pick arm or head on all four sides, thus strengthening the same, and holding it rigidly in its socket; the object of such prolongations being to brace the pick-arm at the points. where great strain on the same is exerted, especially at the top and bottom sides. The eye is formed with one or more ribs, which fit a groove formed in the side of the pick-arm, so that when the same coincide, and a wedge is inserted, as hereinafter described, the rib and groove will interlock, and thus bind the pick-arm firmly in position. b

In the drawings, the letter A designates the eye of a pick, which is made of a peculiar construction, so as to embrace the four sides of the handle and of the pick arm or head, whereby great strength and rigidity is imparted to 113116 pick when all the parts are placed in position and. secured together. To accomplish such, the eye is formed with two openings, at right angles with each other-one for receiving the handle, and the other to receive the pick arm or head. In order to strengthen the pick-arm at points contiguous to the sides of the handle, where great strain is exerted, usual in picking and prying, I form the eye with flanges or prolongations b b c c, the former to embrace the top and bottom of the pick-arm, and the latter to embrace the sides of the same, and also the handle; the construction being such that all four sides of the pick-arm and of the handle are braced and strengthened without materially increasing the weight of the pick, and at the same time dispensing with the usual perforation of the pick-arm for the passage of the handle. The handle is provided with a hole transversely coinciding with the hole of the eye, so that when the two holes are brought together the arm (J can be passed through. The diameter of the holes last named is larger than that of the pick-arm, and the arm is provided in one of its sides with a groove fitting on a rib or key, a, which projects in the arm-hole of the eye.

In putting together the parts of my pick, the arm or head 0 is adjusted in the eye A, so as to receive the rib a in its groove, and a wedge, D, is driven in along the other side of the armthat is to say, transversely between it and the inner side of the eye-whereby the groove and rib are tightly interlocked with each other, and the arm or head is securely locked in position. By this means an extremely strong and durable pick is obtained, and at a a comparatively small cost.

That part of the handle receiving the eye A tapers inwardly, and the eye is fitted thereon, or is made to taper correspondingly. When the wedge D is driven into its seat the eye is moved forward against this taper, and is tightly wedged in place upon the handle.

Picks are now in use in which the pick-arm is seated in an open slot formed in the extreme end of the pick-handle, and confined therein by a metallic strap, bent so as to cover the end of the pick-handle, the free ends of such strap being secured by bolts upon opposite sides of the handle, the pick-arm being inserted through openings formed in the strap and handle, and then wedged in place.

Such construction differs from mine, since no provision is made for embracing the four sides of the pick-arm; nor is any support present upon the top and bottom of the pick-arm, to resist the strain always present in picking and prying; and, further, the employment of bolts as a fastening medium is objectionable, as they soon become loose and broken.

The prime feature of my invention is the formation of the two openings throughout the eye, whereby the pick-arm is strengthened at all points contiguous to the handle, and also to permit of the handle being passed through 2. The eye A, having a transverse opening throughout its body for the passage of the handle, a longitudinal opening for the reception of the pick-arm, and a rib for interlocking with a groove in the pick-arm, the same being wedged in position, all combined and constructed substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

STEPHEN LYN OH.

Witnesses W. HAU'FF, CHAS. WAIILERS. 

